AbbVie to Invest $380 Million in Illinois to Expand U.S. Manufacturing

Feb 23 (Reuters) – AbbVie announced on Monday that it will invest $380 million to build two new active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at its Illinois campus. This expansion aims to increase the company's domestic production capacity for its neuroscience and obesity medicines.

Investment in Domestic Manufacturing

The investment is part of AbbVie’s broader strategy to strengthen its U.S. manufacturing capabilities, as pharmaceutical companies rush to bolster domestic production and inventories amid the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported drugs. In October, the U.S. government imposed a 100% tariff on branded drugs, but this applied only to companies that had not yet begun construction on U.S.-based manufacturing plants.

Construction Timeline and Technological Integration

The new facilities will be located in North Chicago, Illinois, with construction set to begin in spring 2026. Both plants are expected to be fully operational by 2029. These new facilities will incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence, which will support the production of future pipeline medicines.

API Production and Job Creation

The manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is one of the most intricate steps in pharmaceutical production, AbbVie stated. The company also revealed plans to hire 300 people in North Chicago, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators, and lab technicians, as part of the expansion.

Commitment to U.S.-Based Research and Development

In January, AbbVie pledged $100 billion over the next decade for U.S.-based research and development. This includes an earlier $195 million expansion at the same North Chicago site to enhance API production for immunology, oncology, and neuroscience drugs.

AbbVie currently operates 11 manufacturing sites in the U.S. and is engaged in discussions with multiple states regarding future projects. The company expects to announce further investments in 2026.